The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Smile

The song of the day for Monday, June 24, 2019, is “Smile.”

About This Song

Charlie Chaplin wrote “Smile” in 1936 for his last silent film, Modern Times, which shows Chaplin and his costar Paulette Goddard, walking hand-in-hand up the road as the sun rises and as this song plays, in one of the most iconic scenes ever filmed. The lyrics, added later, were written by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons.

This song is a favorite of Tony Bennett’s and he sings “Smile” at most of his live concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded “Smile” several times. Today we are featuring his duet of “Smile” with Barbra Streisand from the 2006 album Duets: An American Classic.

Ms. Streisand’s birthday is June 24. Please join The Year of Tony Bennett in wishing her a happy birthday.

Smile

Smile, a song by Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand on Spotify

“Smile,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from iTunes.

Here’s that famous scene with Chaplin and Paulette Goddard from Modern Times:

Smile, Charlie Chaplin , Modern Times, 1936

Smile!

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Sings with the Guys, Part 1

The playlist of the week starting June 16, 0219, is Tony Sings with the Guys, Part 1.

Tony Sings with the Guys, Part 1

This playlist contains some of Tony early duets with male singers.

Let the Good Times Roll, with B.B. King, from Playin’ With My Friends

New York State of Mind, with Billy Joel, from Playin’ With My Friends

Cold, Cold Heart, with Tim McGraw, from Duets: An American Classic

Everyday I Have The Blues, with Stevie Wonder, from Playin’ With My Friends

The Boulevard of Broken Dreams, with Sting, from Duets: An American Classic

The Shadow of Your Smile, with Juanes, from Duets: An American Classic

The Very Thought of You, with Paul McCartney, from Duets: An American Classic

I Wanna Be Around, with Bono, from Duets: An American Classic

Evenin’, with Ray Charles, from Playin’ With My Friends

Rags to Riches, with Elton John, from Duets: An American Classic

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Song of the Day: Are You Having Any Fun?

The song of the day for Saturday, June 30, 2018 is “Are You Having Any Fun?”.

About This Song

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” was written by Jack Yellen and Sammy Fain for the 1939 George White’s Scandals. George White produced these Broadway revues from 1919 to 1939. Stars introduced in his Scandals include Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger and The Three Stooges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Are You Having Any Fun?” with Count Basie and His Orchestra for the 1959 album Basie Swings, Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon did the arrangement.

Life Is a Song (Let"s Sing It Together) - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to Life Is a Song (Let"s Sing It Together) - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959


“Are You Having Any Fun?” as well as Basie Swings, Bennett Sings, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Tony Bennett’s second recording of today’s song was made in 2006. It was a duet with Elvis Costello for Duets: An American Classic. We’re happy to present a nice video of the recording session. The band for this recording consists of Lee Musiker (piano), Gray Sargent (guitar), Paul Langosch (bass) and Harold Jones (drums).

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart in San Francisco

he song of the day for Monday, June 4, 2018 is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart Francisco” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross. We’ve told the story of Ralph Sharon pulling this song out of a drawer as they were preparing to travel to the West Coast–they thought it would be a nice song for the “locals” and so it was sung for the first time in 1961 in the Venetian Room at The Fairmont Hotel on and the rest, as they say, is history. Bennett has been singing it every day since.

About This Version

Other than live performances at concerts, Tony Bennett had not recorded “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” since 1961. That changed in 2006 when Bennett and producer Phil Ramone decided to record a new version for the album Duets: An American Classic. Bennett chose pianist Bill Charlap and the result was this lovely recording. So, in honor the ceremony in San Francisco naming a portion of Mason Street as Tony Bennett Way, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Listen to I Left My Heart in San Francisco on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2006


“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from iTunes.

NPR did a great story about recording this song:

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Song of the Day: Because of You

The song of the day for Saturday, November 25, 2017 is “Because of You.”

About This Song

“Because of You” was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein (Oscar’s uncle) and Dudley Wilkinson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Because of You” in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. It’s a really lovely recording.

“Because of You,” originally recorded in 1951, was Bennett’s big break-out hit; the recording reached number one on the Billboard pop chart for 32 weeks–10 of those weeks were at #1. It was Tony Bennett’s first huge hit and made him a star.

Because of You

Listen to Because of You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, k.d. lang · 2006


“Because of You,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Our Saturday video this week is Tony and k.d. lang sitting with Phil Ramone, who produced Duets: An American Classic, talking about the song and capturing parts of the recording session.